Conjured images
The latest image generation systems are commonly (and misleadingly) referred to as artificial intelligences (AIs). Those wishing to draw attention to the fact that they possess neither intelligence or consciousness refer to them as machine-learning systems. More obscurely they can be characterised as generative adversarial neural networks.
As a first step into this intoxicating new world of synthetic imagination, I have been experimenting with an image generator called midjourney. The experience is forcing me to review all of my work.
Dutch flower paintings
For some time I have been planning to create a large flower arrangement using digital modelling. Achieving a convincing result will entail a significant amount of effort and is likely to require several weeks of work.
The images shown here were generated using midjourney – in seconds.
Mandalas
Mandalas are the sort of thing midjourney ‘likes’. They occupy a design space that is richly populated with examples.
I like mandalas too.
Cloudscapes
I recall, as a child, coming home from school and being impressed by the sight of the sky at sunset. Above the rooftops of the council estate where we lived, there were storm clouds and, beyond them, a greeny-blue expanse of sky that I persuaded myself was the sea, viewed from a great height.
Ornamental lettering
I tried generating highly decorated ornate lettering for use in a project (see below).
However it proved extremely difficult to persuade midjourney to produce recognisable letters and virtually impossible to generate an alphabet with anything like a consistent style.
Gone fishing
One of the first generated images to reflect my own intentions